When it comes to publicity, the games get the glory and the consoles get the hype, but what’s often overlooked is the controller. It’s where the rubber of a player’s skill hits the road of gameplay. It’s the tool players… Continue Reading →

When it comes to publicity, the games get the glory and the consoles get the hype, but what’s often overlooked is the controller. It’s where the rubber of a player’s skill hits the road of gameplay. It’s the tool players use to interact into sprawling open-world games or competitive shooters. The controller is an area where a small modification can make a world of difference.

Noticing the growing market for e-sports gear and the demand for higher-end peripherals, Microsoft introduced the Xbox One Elite Wireless controller in October. At $149.99, it’s expensive, costing almost three times the amount of a regular one. It serves the same functions. It has more bells and whistles. But is the controller worth the hefty price tag?

The carrying case that accompanies the controller is a nice touch.

THE PERFECT FEEL: My answer is absolutely. The Xbox One Elite Wireless controller is one of the best pieces of hardware I’ve used in a long time. The build quality is tank solid. The customization options are ingenuously easy to attach or remove. The extra features such as the paddles give players an edge in online matches.

But what sets this controller so far apart from its peers is the feel. Just holding it and playing a few matches of Halo 5 or through Rise of the Tomb Raider and you’ll notice the superior handling. It’s the difference between driving a Honda Civic and feeling all the cracks and bumps in the street and getting behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz and effortlessly gliding across the road’s surface.

It all begins with those analog sticks. Microsoft provides three removable caps. The first is the normal one that Xbox One gamers are used to. The second is a longer version of that. It offers better leverage and control similar to that of KontrolFreek products. The third topper is smaller and has a smooth convex shape. Users can easily pop these in and out and much like the other customizable parts of the controller, they’re held in place partly through magnets.

The build quality of the sticks make the device feel perfect.

SMOOTHEST ANALOG STICKS EVER: That’s a fine feature but what makes these sticks great is the perfect resistance and range of motion. It’s smooth and almost luxurious. Stock sticks have a janky feeling in comparison. The regular ones either have too much give when you tilt them or you can feel the grind of plastic on plastic as you rotate the analog sticks in a circle. The Xbox One Elite Wireless has none of these issues. It has the just the right amount of give and range of movement, so that every time you aim down those iron sites in Call of Duty, it feels dead on.

The other customizable parts are great. There’s a cross-shaped D-Pad for those Nintendo fans or a circular one for the crowd who grew up with the Sega Genesis. On the back, there are switches that adjust the give of the right and left trigger. It gives those buttons a hair trigger that’s useful in shooters.

The paddles on the back are a game changer.

That feature will give experts an edge in shooters, but it’s the paddles that will prove to be the biggest game-changer for pro players. Located in the back of the controller and activated with the the ring and middle fingers, these parts give a huge advantage to players in shooters. They’re a way for players to hit the face buttons without the competitors having to take their thumbs off the analog sticks. That split-second when a player is hitting B to crouch or A to jump could be the difference between shooting a foe or being shot.

It’s a feature that will take some getting used but it proves invaluable in shooters. For other games, the paddles aren’t nearly as useful. They often get in the way, but thankfully, players can remove them easily just like other controller parts.

IF YOU WANT MORE FINE-TUNING: Lastly, the Xbox One has a dedicated app that lets players modify the Elite controller in several ways. They can rearrange the button layout to their liking. If they want the B button to act as the right trigger, they can change it so that the controller works that way. It lets players adjust those settings even if a game doesn’t allow it. The app also lets players adjust the sensitivity of the analog sticks, fine tuning the responsiveness through an easy-to-use graph. Players can increase a stick’s dead zone or they can alter it so the scheme becomes more sensitive the further players tilt the stick. Once they’re done tweaking the controller, they can save those settings in the device and access it through the “1-2” switch on the front.

If you think about it, the humble controller is one of the most important parts of a console. It’s the contact point that lets us venture through through virtual worlds. It’s the piece of plastic that players use the most. Microsoft shines the spotlight on this overlooked part of the interactive experience and shows the potential of what high-end controllers can do for gamers.

Logitech has been in the peripheral business for decades and part of the reason that it has been so successful is that they listen to their audience. When it comes to its latest keyboard and headset, that’s no exception. After… Continue Reading →

Logitech has been in the peripheral business for decades and part of the reason that it has been so successful is that they listen to their audience. When it comes to its latest keyboard and headset, that’s no exception. After the company’s gaming division released the Orion Spark last year, they took the critiques leveled at the mechanical keyboard to heart.

With the update, the G410 Atlas Spectrum, Logitech G opts for a smaller footprint that has become more popular with the e-sports community. With space and comfort at a premium at these events, players have veered away from the bulky full-sized keyboards and opted for something that they can use in the small area provided. The Atlas is compact and lighter Logitech’s previous offerings. It can fit on the desk and give players room to spread out without feeling cramped.

Media controls are integrated into the top row of keys. There’s a dedicated game mode key that disables that pesky Windows button, so that it doesn’t get pressed accidentally over the course of a match. To top it all off, Logitech added a key to cut the lights on the RGB mechanical keyboard.

The simple design of the Logitech G410 is a strength.

STYLISH LIGHTS AND KEY FEEL: The lighting effects were a major selling point for the Orion Spark last year. But it seems as though form has taken a backseat to function this year. The option to customize the lighting keyboard is still important to a subset of gamers who want to stand out in a crowd. It’s also helpful to newcomers because lighted key customization makes it easier to learn a game’s control scheme. But for professionals already familiar with the minute aspects of a title, performance and key feel are the more important aspects.

And that brings me to the company’s Romer-G switches, which feel good though I wish they were clickier. They still feel somewhat mushy. The travel distance between the keys also feel slightly wider than other keyboards such as Corsair’s STRAFE. As for the Romer-G keys, Logitech says they’re supposed to offer an advantage by being 25 percent faster to actuate. In real-life terms, it’s a small difference that’s almost imperceptible.

On the other hand, the changes in surface of the keys will have a bigger impact. With the Atlas Spectrum, Logitech eschews the indented keys found in Orion Spark. Although they give players a better tactile feel, they didn’t sit well with many of them. This time around, the company opted for smooth keys. The only difference in the illumination are the W,A,S,D keys, which are important to just about all PC games, especially shooters because they control movement.

With the Atlas Spectrum, Logitech learned that less is more. The streamlined keyboard is more user-friendly for experts and novices alike. Although the build quality and feel of the keys still aren’t as good as competitors out there, it’s still a decent offering for aspiring pro players who want to take their game to the next level.

The G633 has about every feature you would need.

THE FLEXIBILITY OF SOUND: While the Atlas Spectrum tries to simplify things with limited options, Logitech’s G633 Artemis Spectrum keeps up with the company’s penchant for packing their products with plenty of features. The headset features a comparable lighting scheme to the Atlas. The two can even work in conjunction with each other as well. In addition, players who want to customize the ear cups can do so with removable plates on the side. It’s a nice but ultimately superficial perk designed to look stylish if you happen to be at a LAN.

When it comes to the substance, the Artemis delivers strong booming sound from the headset. Paired with the nice fabric cushioning on the cups, a lot of the external noise is eliminated, so players can focus on the in-game audio. The device produces crisp but slightly saturated sound. Music comes out with a rich intensity while sound effects still pierce through the sound. It’s a good balancing act. It’s one of the better sounding headphones I’ve tested.

The device features six presets with two dedicated to first-person shooters such as Call of Duty and multiplayer online battle arenas such as League of Legends. Gamers can also make their own presets if the available ones aren’t to their liking. The Logitech Gaming Software offers a robust set of sliders.

The left cup has controls for volume, presets and other functions.

A drawback about the Artemis is that it can be difficult to know what preset are on. A visual cue, perhaps on the keyboard, would have been helpful letting players know if they are on Flat, Cinematic Gaming or FPS mode.

Unlike other headsets, the Artemis supports both DTS Headphone: X and Dolby Surround Sound. The device can cover about any PC game or movie. There’s even a menu where they can fine tune how they want their surround sound so players can know where gunfire or footsteps are coming from.

What’s great about the Artemis is that though it has features geared toward the PC community, it can also effectively serve as a headset for consoles. Players can switch out the cords and the headset can act as a normal set of 3.5mm cans albeit one with a single preset. That means players can turn on the one used for shooters and use it in a game of Destiny. The sound isn’t as intense or as loud as you’d find on a PC but they are good.

The only other flaw I could find in the Artemis is the design. They are bulky and you wouldn’t be caught outside wearing one, but it’s a small price to pay for a comfortable headset that you can spend hours on whether it be on console or PC.

Recently, the U.S. government recognized e-Sports players as professional athletes. The move lets overseas gamers visit the U.S. more easily to compete in tournaments, according to Forbes. It’s another sign of legitimacy for the growing field, and it has attracted… Continue Reading →

Recently, the U.S. government recognized e-Sports players as professional athletes. The move lets overseas gamers visit the U.S. more easily to compete in tournaments, according to Forbes. It’s another sign of legitimacy for the growing field, and it has attracted attention from other industries as well.

Interestingly enough, Natrol and its MRI brand is marketing some of its supplements to e-sports gamers and developers. The company says its MRI Black Powder Ultra helps with “mental acuity, stamina, fighting fatigue, increasing focus and reaction time.” I had a chance to test out the product over the past month. Yes, I turned myself into a guinea pig for you folks.

This is what the powder looks like. You’re supposed to mix it with water.

“So why is a powder that’s used for workouts being marketed toward gamers?” That’s what I was thinking when the company’s PR folks first emailed me about it. The problem with the supplement is that though it’s pushed for gamers, there’s no real directions on how to use it outside of the workout sphere. For e-Sports athletes, when should they use it is a big question. Is it before a marathon gaming session? Are you suppose to mix it with water before working out? Is it supposed to be a pick-me-up if they’re tired? The directions just say drink the powder before a workout on an empty stomach and drink it again in the middle of exercise. I have no idea how that will help me power through aCall of Duty match.

As for whether the substance works, I doubt if it will give you an edge in gaming. It does make you moderately awake, but you can get the same effects with coffee or diet soda. I also didn’t get the better “reaction time” and increased focus that Black Powder Ultra promises. I just had the weird taste of artificial watermelon flavor coating the insides of my mouth. It also intensified an irrational fear that I’ll end up being Cartman in this episode of South Park.

Black Powder Ultra is just a supplement for regular athletes (or maybe we should say old-sports athletes?) that’s being shoehorned in as an alternative to caffeinated drinks like Bawls. At $59.99 for a 240 gram package, that’s a pricey prospect; you can find better ways to spend your money like buying a new game.

The event in Las Vegas is going to be awesome, and maybe we’ll see a match as amazing as this. Now, all we have to do is sit tight and wait for the folks behind Evo to start streaming some video above or on this site. In the meantime, I’ll get some popcorn ready because I heard it’s going to be a show …

]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/07/17/evo-2009-championship-series-starts-today/feed/2Street Fighter IV documentary now playinghttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/06/29/street-fighter-iv-documentary-now-playing/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/06/29/street-fighter-iv-documentary-now-playing/#commentsMon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:47 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=152920 Documentaries are only worth watching if you’re slightly interested in the subject. I have an undying love for The King of Kong and a burning hatred forMan on Wire. (That movie is so overrated.) So when I heard that… Continue Reading →

Documentaries are only worth watching if you’re slightly interested in the subject. I have an undying love for The King of Kong and a burning hatred forMan on Wire. (That movie is so overrated.)

So when I heard that Ufrag.tv was streaming “I Got Next,” I had to watch it. The documentary tracks the competitive Street Fighter scene and examines the rivalry between East Coast and West Coast players.

The movie features famous players like Justin Wong, Ryan Gutierrez and Mike Ross. It’s great to see the actual people behind the joysticks, and see the personalities and culture.

My favorite quote from the film has to come from Mike Ross. He’s talking about why Street Fighter should be on TV instead of the Spelling Bee. “I always want get rid of the spelling bee already. I don’t care about kids memorizing words from the dictionary. There’s nothing crazy about that. There’s no free sets in the dictionary. There’s no cross-ups in spelling.”

Tony Huynh posted a list of the best moments in competitive gaming on his LimitlessUnits Web site. It’s an awesome collection of jaw-dropping moments. The problem is that you have to know the context that each moment is played.

]]>Type in GameQuest in Google and you’ll find 230,000 entries. A handful of sites talk about the SciFi Channel’s latest project titled WCG GameQuest (Yep, that’s the working title).

The e-sports program will feature eight episodes, in which 12 contestants battle each other over different video games. The program, slated for 2009, will try to find the “Best All-Around Gamer” in the United States. Aside from the fancy schmancy title, the winner gets $100,000 and the opportunity to travel to other World Cyber Games events.

This could have potential based on how well it’s done. One of the guys behind Last Comic Standing is going to be executive producer of the show. That could be good. Then again, I’ve never seen Last Comic Standing.

All I’m asking is that the producers please, please, please don’t edit the show to make gamers fit certain stereotypes. That would be disappointing. I don’t want to see Steve Urkel as a gamer, all awkward and unable to socialize thank you very much.

Major League Gaming is now opening registration for the North American qualifier side of its Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008. The contest will take the two best teams from North America, Europe, Japan, and Korea/Greater Asia (wherever greater Asia… Continue Reading →

Major League Gaming is now opening registration for the North American qualifier side of its Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008. The contest will take the two best teams from North America, Europe, Japan, and Korea/Greater Asia (wherever greater Asia is) and pit them against each other for our amusement.

The finals will be held at the Tokyo Game Show and the cash prize is a little paltry at $8,000. Couldn’t they have sprung for more? I suppose it may be worth it just to fly to Japan and check out Akihabara, the video game mecca.

Folks better act fast though and get their teams set up. The North American qualifier will conclude Sept. 8. That’s not too far away.

Andy Reif, the head of the Championship Gaming Series, has left his post after completing a two-year contract. What does it mean for league? I’m really not that sure. Reif had some background in sports. He was the chief operating… Continue Reading →

Andy Reif, the head of the Championship Gaming Series, has left his post after completing a two-year contract. What does it mean for league?

I’m really not that sure. Reif had some background in sports. He was the chief operating officer of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. It may helped on the formating and planning of the CGS, but when it came to reaching out to gamers, there could have been somethings done better.

Instead, he will be replaced by Dale Hopkins, who is the former chief operating officer of G4 Network. The press release said, Hopkins “will take over Reifâ€™s duties as head of the league.” It may be a good move to get someone who has experience in video games in the charge. I’m hoping that they can maybe change some of the games and cycle through them.

After its second season, the Championship Gaming Series is mixing it up a bit, coming out with a Pro-Am division this summer. Folks who think they can compete with pro players can show the league their stuff. Players have to… Continue Reading →

After its second season, the Championship Gaming Series is mixing it up a bit, coming out with a Pro-Am division this summer. Folks who think they can compete with pro players can show the league their stuff.

The CGS wants you

Players have to register, and for the time being, it’s free. The league games are: Counter-Strike: Source, Counter-Strike 1.6 (the man’s game), Team Fortress, Dead or Alive 4 and Forza Motorsports 2. There’s $40,000 in cash prizes so if you think you can hang, you should probably sign up.

Elsewhere, the Dallas Venom are adding two sheeps to the online fodder. Players can compete against the Venom’s Michelle â€œPhoenixâ€ Pleet and Manny â€œMasterâ€ Rodriguez this Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. They’re playing under the handles CGS Phoenix and CGS Master (name speaks for itself). It’s all part of the Play with the Pros program. It’s mildly interesting.